Vocab 2.1

Question 1

Cable

Answer 1

A strong rope, usually made of metal, designed to have great

tensile strength and to be used in structures.

Question 2

Centroid

Answer 2

The geometric center of an area.

Question 3

Compression Force

Answer 3

A body subjected to a push.

Question 4

Concurrent Force
Systems

Answer 4

A force system where all of the forces are applied at a
common point on the body or having their lines of action with
a common intersection point.

Question 5

Cross-Sectional Area

Answer 5

A surface or shape exposed by making a straight cut through

something at right angles to the axis.

Question 6

Direction

Answer 6

The direction of a vector is defined by the angle between a

reference axis and the arrow’s line of direction.

Question 7

Fixed Support

Answer 7

A support that prevents translation and rotation in a beam.

Question 8

Flange

Answer 8

A broad ridge or pair of ridges projecting at a right angle from
the edge of a structural shape in order to strengthen or stiffen
it.

Question 9

Free Body Diagram

Answer 9

A diagram used to isolate a body from its environment,

showing all external forces acting upon it.

Question 10

Gusset

Answer 10

A plate or bracket for strengthening an angle in framework.

Question 11

Joint

Answer 11

The connection points of members of a truss.

Question 12

Magnitude

Answer 12

The absolute value of a number.

Question 13

Member

Answer 13

Slender straight pieces of a truss connected by joints.

Question 14

Method of Joints

Answer 14

A method of analysis of trusses which constructs free body
diagrams of each joint and determines the forces acting in
that joint by considering equilibrium of the joint pin.

Question 15

Moment

Answer 15

The turning effect of a force about a point equal to the
magnitude of the force times the perpendicular distance from
the point to the line of action from the force.`

Question 16

Moment of Inertia

Answer 16

A mathematical property of a cross section that is concerned
with a surface area and how that area is distributed about a
centroidal axis.

Question 17

Newton’s First Law

Answer 17

Every body or particle continues at a state of rest or uniform
motion in a straight line, unless it is compelled to change that
state by forces acting upon it.

Question 18

Newton’s Second Law

Answer 18

The change of motion of the body is proportional to the net
force imposed on the body and is in the direction of the net
force.

Question 19

Newton’s Third Law

Answer 19

If one body exerts a force on a second body, then the second
body exerts a force on the first body which is equal in
magnitude, opposite in direction, and collinear.

Question 20

Pinned Support

Answer 20

A support that prevents translation in any direction.

Question 21

Planar Truss

Answer 21

A truss that lies in a single plane often used to support roofs

and bridges.

Question 22

Resultant Force

Answer 22

The resultant of a system of force is the vector sum of all

forces.

Question 23

Roller Support

Answer 23

A support that only prevents a beam from translating in one

direction.

Question 24

Scalar

Answer 24

A physical quantity that has magnitude only.

Question 25

Sense

Answer 25

The sense of a vector is the direction of the vector relative to

its path and indicated by the location of the arrow.

Question 26

Simple Truss

Answer 26

A truss composed of triangles, which will retain its shape

even when removed from supports.

Question 27

Static Equilibrium

Answer 27

A condition where there are no net external forces acting
upon a particle or rigid body and the body remains at rest or
continues at a constant velocity.

Question 28

Statically
Indeterminate

Answer 28

A structure or body which is over-constrained such that there
are more unknown supports than there are equations of static
equilibrium.

Question 29

Structure

Answer 29

Something made up of interdependent parts in a definite
pattern of organization, such as trusses, frames, or
machines.

Question 30

Tension Force

Answer 30

A body subjected to a pull.

Question 31

Vector Quantity

Answer 31

A quantity that has both a magnitude and direction.